Form evaluation system and method

ABSTRACT

It is sought to provide a form evaluation system, which permits clear visual comparison of an ideal form and the own form on an image and accurately understanding points to be improved. A database is formed with check points of the form in golf, for instance, as reference data of form evaluation. A predetermined division number of still images are produced from motion picture image data of subscriber, these still images are displayed on a personal computer display screen, the form of the subscriber&#39;s still images is evaluated with the database as reference, and on the basis of the evaluation a form evaluation sheet is produced, which contains a predetermined division number of serially changing still images and form guide comments each provided for each of these still images.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

1. Field of the Invention

This invention relates to a form evaluation system for producing a predetermined division number of still images from motion picture image data obtained by photographing the form of a subscriber describing the check of the form, displaying these still images on the screen of a personal computer, evaluating the form in the still images on the basis of a preliminarily produced ideal form database, producing, on the basis of the evaluation, a form evaluation sheet containing a predetermined division number of serially changing still images and from comments each provided for each of the still images and providing the produced form evaluation sheet via an internet to the subscriber.

2. Prior Art

Many persons who do various sports desire improving their technical power by having accurate evaluation concerning certain points in their own form by advanced persons. For examples, amateur golf players often receive swing lessons by lesson professionals in golf training places. Also, a system is well known in the art, in which a user client transmits photograph images of his or her golf swing to an expert via a internet home page, and the expert transmits analysis results and remarks on the basis of these images, (see Patent Literature 1, for instance). Furthermore, various systems for electronically detecting golf swing defects are well known in the art (see Patent Literatures 2 to 4, for instance).

(Patent Literature 1): Japanese Patent Laid-Open No. 2003-150699

(Patent Literature 2): Japanese Patent Laid-Open No. 2004-81683

(Patent Literature 3): Japanese Patent Laid-Open No. 2003-117045

(Patent Literature 4): Japanese Patent Laid-Open No. 2003-111880

However, the lessons by the lesson professionals are subject to limitation on time and place for they should be received in front of the lesson professionals. In addition, since the swing of the evaluated persons is evaluated relatively in comparison with the reference swing of the Lesson professionals, the evaluation naturally varies in dependence on the lesson professional. Furthermore, the Lesson is provided analog-wise by speech and is effective only once. In other words, even when the swing form is improved gradually by receiving a plurality of times of lessons, no measure for evaluating the improvement has been present. More specifically, because there has been no reference of absolute form evaluation, in the case of continuous lesson reception, it has been impossible to express the improvement of the technical power by the lesson is in a numerical form. Some evaluated persons receive lessons by lesson professionals by taking their golf swing in images. This, however, is a mere option added to the usual analog-wise lessons. Moreover, the electronic golf swing analysis method has problems that it is difficult to obtain adequate advice from electronic analysis results and that it is difficult to visually understand points to be improved.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The invention seeks to solve the above problems, and it has an object of providing a form evaluation system, which can evaluate serial technical power improvement by absolutely evaluating the form without limiting time and place of the form evaluation and without having resort to the difference of form-evaluating lesson professionals and accumulating the form evaluation.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is a flow chart showing a form evaluation system according to the invention;

FIG. 2 is a view for describing the form evaluation system according to the invention;

FIGS. 3(A) to 3(E) are views showing the form evaluation system according to the invention;

FIG. 4 is a view for describing an ideal form database according to the invention;

FIG. 5 is a view for describing a form evaluation sheet; and

FIG. 6 is a block diagram showing a form evaluation sheet production problem according to the invention.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

The arrangement of the form evaluation system according to the invention will now be described with reference to FIGS. 1 to 6.

FIG. 1 shows a summary of the system, and an embodiment will now be described, in which the case of golf club swing from evaluation will be taken as an example. The invention is of course applicable as well to the form evaluation for baseball butting, swinging, etc. In FIG. 1, block 2 represents process operations on the evaluated person or user side desiring the own form check by utilizing the present system, and block 4 represents process operations on the management side managing the present system. Best users of the system are (1) those who like golfing and desire technical power improvement or advancement even by paying expenditures, (2) those who desire following up better swing, (3) those who are not satisfied by receiving lessons by lesson professionals and (4) those who desire improvement or advancement without neighbor persons becoming area thereof.

The user can apply to the utilization of the system from the web site (step 1) or in golf spot or golf training place (step 2). When the user applies to the utilization, he or she makes payment of a subscription fee and a utilization fee to a membership registration/settlement process department on the management side 4 (step 3). When the user completes the membership registration, he or she takes motion picture images of the swing as both front and side views at the same time (step 4), and sends these motion picture images to a subscriber's motion picture image utilization acceptance process department on the management side 4 via suitable transfer means such as data transmission or electronic mail on network or postal mail.

When the management side 4 receives the motion picture images, it sends out an electronic mail of acceptance confirmation to the user (i.e., subscriber). At the same time, the management side 4 produces a form evaluation sheet 6 (see FIG. 5) in a computer process to be described later (see FIG. 5), then up-loads the sheet in the web site, and sends out an up-loading report mail to the user. When the user receives the report of up-loading in the web site, he or she accesses a personal page in the web site with ID/password authentication, and receives an evaluation of the swing images (step 5).

After the user has completed the membership registration (step 3), he or she can inquire the management side 4 about the swing improvement or like contents (step 6). The user can also receive the reply to the inquiry by an electronic mail from the management side (step 7). The management side 4 builds the web site of the system (step 8). As for the building of the web site of the management side 4, development of swing motion picture image process software (step 9) and development of comments assembling process software (step 10) are made, and the web site of the management side is built up by using these software items. Subsequently, the management side 4 does such business activities as securing the Lesson professional stuff (step 11). Also, the management side 4 makes it possible, in cooperation with a golf spot or a golf training place (step 12), to accept the user's subscription application from these facilities.

The management side 4 executes a membership registration/settlement process (step 14) in cooperation with a credit authorization company (step 13). The management side 4 also accepts swing motion picture images taken from the front and the side at the same time and sends out from a subscriber user (step 15), and also it transfers these motion picture images to the motion picture image processing department for a frame division process to obtain 9-frame still images taken from the front and those taken from the side (i.e., rearwardly of the user) (step 16). The management side 4 further executes an evaluation scale application process (step 17), a comments assembling process (step 18) and a lesson professional's comment check process (step 19), these processes being described later. These processes are executed by following a form evaluation sheet production program 8 stored in a personal computer, and the form evaluation sheet 6 is produced with this program 8. The produced form evaluation sheet 6 is up-loaded in the web site of the management side (step 20).

When the site-up of the form evaluation sheet 6 including images carrying the subscriber's swing evaluation has been completed, the management side 4 sends out a site-up completion report as subscriber's page renewal report by an electronic mail to the subscriber (step 21). As for a subscriber's inquiry about the swing improvement or the like directed to the management side, the management side accepts such inquiry in the subscriber's inquiry acceptance department (step 22), and transfers the accepted inquiry to the player's comment input process department. The replier's comment input process department produces a reply to the inquiry (step 23) and up-loads the produced reply in the web site, while sending a replay mail to the inquirer (step 24).

Now, the frame division process of producing time serial continuous still images from motion picture images will be described with reference to FIG. 2. In this process, the motion picture image database 10 is produced from the motion picture images taken at the same time in two directions, i.e., from the front and the side, with such camera as a digital video camera or a digital still camera, the motion picture images being automatically taken in the motion picture image take-in part 12 of the from evaluation sheet production program 8 in the personal computer. The motion picture images of the motion picture image database 10 are converted in the automatic still image producing part 14 to still images as 30 frames per second (step 1), and for absolute swing check from these still images (i.e., frames), full 9-division frames 16 of check points in a series of swing operations, such as addressing, take-back, top, impact and follow-through, are selected by operator's manual operation (step 2), and are registered in the 9-frame still image storing unit 18 (step 3). The division frame number is not limited to 9, and it may be set in dependence on the technical power of the player, for instance 12 for middle-class players and 16 for high-class players.

The evaluation scale synthesis process will now be described with reference to FIGS. 3A to 3E. In this process, synthetic images are formed by overlapping, on the screen, the evaluation scale for visually showing deviations of the position, the angle, etc. from an ideal form over the swing check still image displayed on the personal computer display 19 by matching the image size with the size of the still images. FIG. 3A shows various evaluation scales of clock 22, matrix 24, etc. stored in the evaluation scale storing unit 20. FIG. 3B shows a synthetic image obtained by displaying the clock 22 in the evaluation scale on the personal computer display 19 with the image size matched to the size of the take-back still image size and combining the still image and the clock 22. As shown in FIG. 3A, various different evaluation scales are prepared, and used as a tool representative of an absolute standard for the swing evaluation.

The clock 22 is prepared for measuring and confirming the positions of various points of image on clock display. The matrix 24 is a lattice-like scale used for confirming the positions of the front and rearward vertical part of the swinging body and the club. The drum can 26 is used for the check of the sway in the front image. A check is made as to whether it is possible to turn in the drum can 26 which is set with respect to the inter-food distance. The protractor (i.e., semicircular protraction) 28 is used mainly for the rearward image to measure the angle of the club and the body. The paint 30 is a drawing tool used for showing a right position in case when the body or the club is at a wrong position, and it is measured not for measurement but for checking. The swing plane 32 is used for the rearward image, that is, it is used for checking whether the club passes through a line connecting the ball and the shoulder by overlapping the swing plane on the line.

The gyroscope 34 is used for checking whether the club and the back correctly turn until the impact by adding the swing plane and the back line. The skeleton 36 is an image showing right movement of the club and the body, and it permits finding a correction point by overlapping it over the swing. The skeleton 35 which represents the man's body with dimple lines, are of either type A or type B. The type A is a front view, and the type B is a side view (i.e., rearward view). FIG. 3C shows a synthetic image obtained from the swing plane 32 and a still image. FIG. 3D shows a synthetic image obtained from the matrix 24 and still image. FIG. 3E shows a synthetic image obtained from the drum can 26 and a still image. As shown in FIGS. 3B to 3E, synthetic still images are produced by a desired evaluation scale to the still images for the swing check. An evaluating person such as a lesson professional evaluates the swing by referring to these synthetic still images.

The synthetic images are used for the form check on the basis of the ideal form database. The ideal form database is obtained from check points used in golf magazines and books written by lesson professionals, coaching terminals used in these writings and evaluation standards, and an example of the database is shown in FIG. 4. A plurality of lesson professionals or equivalent qualified persons input evaluation points by manual operation via a personal computer network from individual places in remote areas by referring to the synthetic images of a desired evaluation scale used as subscriber's swing still images. For example, when an evaluating person determines on the basis of the synthetic still image No. 1 in FIG. 3C that the addressing angle is 18 degrees, he or she gives Evaluation 2, and updates the form evaluation database 38 for each subscriber and each birth date.

The evaluation is made for each check point, and a score is determined for each evaluation. For example, the eagle is represented by Evaluation 1, the birdie is represented by Evaluation 2, the par is represented by Evaluation 3, the boggy is represent by Evaluation 4, and the double boggy is represented by Evaluation 5. The score is determined by each check point of the form, and the score is automatically calculated as the sum of the check point values for overall evaluation. When the swing evaluation results are registered via the network in the form evaluation database 38 in the host personal computer, the data in the form evaluation database 38 are automatically converted to HTML, and up-loaded in the web site in the form of a form evaluation sheet 6 as shown in FIG. 5.

The form evaluation sheet production program will now be described with reference to FIG. 6.

First in the case when the personal computer operator inputs data concerning the still image No. 1 in the form evaluation sheet 6 by using the form evaluation production program 8, frame No. 1 of a specified subscriber is selected from the 9-frame sill image storing unit 18, and is displayed on the screen by controlling the display unit 42. Subsequently, when the operator designates the matrix 24, for instance, form the evaluation scale, the control unit 40 selects the matrix 24 from the evaluation scale storing unit 20, and controls the display unit 42 to display the matrix 24 in superimposition in the frame No. 1 still image on the screen. At this time, the operator can designate the position and the size of the matrix 24 to cause the evaluation scale control unit 44 to shift the matrix to the desired position.

Then, the operator checks the grip, both arms, set-up and ball position at the time of the addressing with reference to the idea form database 46 of the golf swing while watching the synthetic image obtained form the still image and the matrix 24. As for the grip, the operator checks the way of gripping, and also checks that both hands are such that the Y-figure part formed between the roots of the thumb and the index finger is directed to the right shoulder. As for both arms, the operator checks the form of the arms, and also checks whether both shoulders and the grip form V figure in front of the body. The operator determines the evaluation as either one of five levels with reference to the ideal form database 46 of the golf swing, for instance level 1 with a V figure angle of 15 2 degrees and level 2 with an angle of 18±2 degrees. The operator inputs evaluation data by making all evaluations of the addressing stance in the frame No. 1.

When the evaluation data have been inputted, the evaluation point input unit 48 inputs under control of the control unit 40, a score of the eagle with evaluation level 1 of the addressing stance, the birdie with level 2, the par with level 3, the boggy with level 4 and the double boggy with level 5, in a predetermined part of the golf from evaluation database 38, as shown in the score columns 49 of the form evaluation sheet 6. Also, when the operator inputs a comment of evaluation contents concerning the addressing stance from the keyboard, the evaluation contents comment input unit 50 inputs, under control of the control unit 40, the comment inputted from the keyboard to a predetermined part of the form evaluation database 38 so that the comment is displayed in the evaluation contents column 52 of the form evaluation sheet 6. When the evaluation of the synthetic image on the screen has been completed, the synthetic image input unit 58 inputs, on the basis of the operator's keyboard operation, the synthetic image to a predetermined part of the form evaluation database 38 so that the image is displayed in the image column 60 of the form evaluation sheet 6.

In the above manner, for each of the 9-division still images, synthetic image with the evaluation scale, evaluation data, evaluation contents comment data, advice comment data and overall advice by other lesson professionals are produced. These data are inputted to predetermined parts, respectively, of the corresponding form evaluation database 38 for the updating thereof. When a database of a particular subscriber in the form evaluation database 38 has been updated, the database of that subscriber is automatically converted to the form evaluation sheet 6 of the HTML form, and the up-loading unit 62 does site-up to the management side web site.

This embodiment permits conversion of motion picture images taken with a digital camera or the like as material to 9-frame still images for the form check, which is difficult by general people. Since it is possible to compare the ideal swing of a lesson professional and the own swing on the screen, it is possible to indirectly understand the check points to be improved. Also, it is possible to receive evaluation by selecting a suitable one of a plurality of the lesson professionals. Furthermore, swing motion picture images once accepted are preserved semi-permanently, and it is thus possible to confirm changes in the own form. Still further, the swing form may be evaluated in a point evaluation system such that it is evaluated by at least three lesson professionals to determine its evaluation point as the average point. Yet further, the management side may be adopted to provide a handicap when a predetermined standard is met.

The management side issues the written handicap authorization, and bestows to an upper rank handicap user an honor, which is provided together with the own comment in a handicap board in the web site. The management side can also provide an evaluation system which, unlike the handicap, provides an evaluation with a point level increase in a predetermined period of time, and it may give a certificate to an upper rank user. It is possible to build up a database from the sex, height, body type, muscle strength, etc. of the user, and such an arrangement may be made that the user tries to produce an ideal form with reference to data of lesson professionals or armatures and can understand the point of club selection for the score-up. It is further possible, in cooperation with a golf spot or a golf training place, to prepare fee-paying photographers as the stuff and provide agent services from the photographing to the user's application to the web site.

As has been described in the foregoing, with the form evaluation system according to the invention, the user can readily compare the ideal form of a sport such as the golf with the own form on a screen and indirectly understand the points to be improved. The system thus permits quick level-up in a sport such as the golf. 

1. A form evaluation system for producing a database form check points of an ideal form of a sport such as the golf and evaluation references of these check points as reference data of form evaluation, while producing a predetermined division number of still images from motion picture image data obtained by photographing the form of an evaluated person desiring the form checks, displaying the still images on a personal computer screen, evaluating the form of the still images of the evaluated person with the database as reference, producing, on the basis of the evaluation, a form evaluation sheet containing a predetermined division number of serially changing still images and form guide comments each provided for each still image and providing the form evaluation sheet to the evaluated person, wherein the personal computer for producing the form evaluation sheet is caused to function as: an evaluation scale storing means for storing one or more evaluation scales used for observing deviations from the reference form in the still images; a form evaluation database storing means for storing data to be provided in each column of the form evaluation sheet; a synthetic image forming means for forming a synthetic image by displaying an evaluation scale in superimposition on a still image displayed on the personal computer display in a desired size and at a given position; a data input means for inputting the synthetic image obtained from the evaluation scale displayed on the personal computer screen and the still image and the form guide comment in the form evaluation database; and a form evaluation sheet producing means for producing the form evaluation sheet from the data in the form evaluation database.
 2. A form evaluation system for producing a database from check points of an ideal form of a sport such as the golf and evaluation references of these check points as reference data of form evaluation, while producing a predetermined division number of still images from motion picture image data of an evaluated person, displaying the still images on a personal computer screen, evaluating the form of the still images of the evaluated person with the database as reference, producing, on the basis of the evaluation a form evaluation sheet containing a predetermine division number of serially changing still images and form guide comments each provided for each still image and providing the form evaluation sheet via internet to the evaluated person, wherein the personal computer for producing the form evaluation sheet is caused to function as: an evaluation scale storing means for storing one or more evaluation scales used for observing deviations from the reference form in the still images; a form evaluation database storing means for storing data to be provided in each column of the form evaluation sheet; a synthetic image forming means for forming a synthetic image by displaying an evaluation scale in superimposition on a still image displayed on the personal computer display in A desired size and at a given position; a data input means for inputting the synthetic image obtained from the evaluation scale displayed on the personal computer screen and the still image and the form guide comment in the form evaluation database; a form evaluation sheet producing means for producing the form evaluation sheet from the data in the form evaluation database; and an up-loading means for up-loading a form evaluation sheet for each evaluated person to the web site on the internet.
 3. The form evaluation system according to claim 1, wherein the form evaluation sheet has an evaluation display column, and the personal computer is caused to function as an evaluation data input means providing evaluation data numerically representing the technical power level from the keyboard in the evaluation display column.
 4. The form evaluation system according to claim 1, wherein the form evaluation sheet has an advice display column, and the personal computer is caused to function as an advice input means for providing an expert's advice for the keyboard to the advice display column.
 5. The form evaluation system according to claim 1, wherein the evaluation scale is constituted by a measurement pattern suitable for visually displaying a deviation from the reference form of the still image, such as a lattice pattern displaying the coordinate position of each point in the still image or a protractor form pattern displaying the angle of a particular line in the still image.
 6. The form evaluation system according to claim 1, wherein the predetermined division number of still image are constituted by front and side still image produced from two motion picture image databases obtained by motion picture image photographing the form of the evaluated person from the front and the side at the same time, the front and side still images being evaluated with the ideal form database as reference.
 7. A form evaluation method comprising: an ideal form database production step of producing a database with check points and evaluation standards as ideal form data from magazines of the sport such as the golf and books of professionals; a motion picture image input step of inputting motion picture images of an evaluated person in a personal computer; a motion picture image-to-still image conversion step of converting the motion picture images to serially continuous still images; a still image selecting step of extracting a predetermined number of serially changing still images among the continuous still images; an evaluation scale producing step of producing an evaluation scale having a lattice or protractor pattern for visually measuring the position and angle of various points in the still image by combining the still image; and a personal computer process of causing a personal computer to function as: a means for storing the motion picture images and continuous still images; an evaluation scale storing means for storing one or more evaluation scales in a memory; a synthetic image forming means for forming a synthetic image by causing display of an evaluation scale in superimposition on a still image displayed on the personal computer screen in a desired size at a given position; a form evaluation database storing means for storing the synthetic images as a form evaluation database corresponding thereto in a memory; a data input means for inputting synthetic images obtained from an evaluation scale and a form guide comment in the form evaluation database; and a form evaluation sheet producing means for producing, from the data in the form evaluation database, a form evaluation sheet containing the synthetic images obtained from the still images and the evaluation scale and form guide comments corresponding to the synthetic images.
 8. The form evaluation method according to claim 7, which further comprises a web site building step of building a web site concerning the form evaluation on an internet, and an up-loading step of providing the form evaluation sheet in the form capable of being read in a browser on the web site.
 9. The form evaluation method according to claim 8, wherein the form evaluation sheet is a golf swing evaluation sheet for evaluating the golf swing, the form evaluation sheet further comprising: a handicap authorizing step of providing a handicap and issuing a written handicap authorization when a predetermined standard level is met by the evaluation with the form evaluation sheet.
 10. The form evaluation system according to claim 2, wherein the form evaluation sheet has an evaluation display column, and the personal computer is caused to function as an evaluation data input means providing evaluation data numerically representing the technical power level from the keyboard in the evaluation display column.
 11. The form evaluation system according to claim 2, wherein the form evaluation sheet has an advice display column, and the personal computer is caused to function as an advice input means for providing an expert's advice for the keyboard to the advice display column.
 12. The form evaluation system according to claim 2, wherein the evaluation scale is constituted by a measurement pattern suitable for visually displaying a deviation from the reference form of the still image, such as a lattice pattern displaying the coordinate position of each point in the still image or a protractor form pattern displaying the angle of a particular line in the still image.
 13. The form evaluation system according to claim 2, wherein the predetermined division number of still image are constituted by front and side still image produced from two motion picture image databases obtained by motion picture image photographing the form of the evaluated person from the front and the side at the same time, the front and side still images being evaluated with the ideal form database as reference. 